ASU Police provide safety reminders as semester begins

The Arizona State University Police Department encourages students to protect themselves as the academic year begins by adhering to basic safety messages and obeying local laws.

The ASU Police Department and the Tempe Police Department will conduct a joint educational campaign during the first weeks of school to enforce traffic laws and alcohol violations.

ASU Police also will also conduct educational safety meetings to provide information to residential life students about staying safe on campus. Information will also be provided on sexual assault, alcohol, drugs and other related crimes. Police will also discuss bicycle thefts, one of the most common crimes of opportunity at the university. Students are urged to register bikes at http://cfo.asu.edu/bike-regform.

Students, faculty and staff who have not already done so are encouraged to sign up for “ASU Alert,” the university’s emergency messaging system at asu.edu/alert. Members will receive emergency text and email messages. ASU Alerts are also posted on Twitter, Facebook and an RSS feed. An ASUrite ID and password is required for this service.

A new messaging option is available through ASU Advisory. This service will be used to communicate non-life threatening incidents such as small fires, crime alerts, building closures and power outages. Members of the ASU community who have already signed up for ASU Alert will still need to sign up for ASU Advisory. Information on signing up for both may be found here: http://asunews.asu.edu/ASUadvisory

Students, faculty and staff are also urged to “Walk Your Wheels” while in crowded pathways on campus. Signs will be posted encouraging cyclists to walk bikes, boarders to carry skate or longboards and roller-skaters to carry their skates. Staff and faculty are asked to park carts and vehicles during class changes when walkways are busy. More information is available through Undergraduate Student Government at http://walk.asu.edu. 

Additional safety tips to keep in mind:

• Call 911 in an emergency. Yellow call boxes highlighted at the top by a “blue light” dial directly into an emergency communication center and can be used during any emergency. 
• Lock your doors. Do not prop doors. Warn others against leaving their doors open or unsecured!
• Let others know what your plans are and where you will be so they know where to look for you if something should happen. 
• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Don’t leave valuable items in your car.
• Properly secure your bike to an authorized rack.  Use a lock that affords maximum protection. 
• Watch for passing trains. Never trespass on the tracks or jaywalk across the rails.
• Don’t give personal information to someone you don’t know.
• If someone demands your property, give it to them and immediately contact the police. 
• A free safety escort service is available on the Tempe Campus. Call (480) 965-1515 to arrange for an escort. For an escort on another campus or after hours of operation, call ASU Police at (480) 965-3456 and an officer or police aide will provide an escort. 
• Additional information about staying safe at home, at parties, while driving and in other situations may be found at http://cfo.asu.edu/police-tips.
• More information about the ASU Police Department is available at http://cfo.asu.edu/police.

In addition to campus resources, the City of Tempe offers information on topics from bicycle safety to Adopt-A-Street and Adopt-A-Park programs at http://www.tempe.gov/backtoschool/. Members of the ASU community can also find information on recycling, safety, volunteering, loud party/noise ordinances and vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian laws among other topics at the site.